Wireless human interface device host interface supporting both bios and OS interface operations

Abstract

A host-side wireless interface services communications between a wireless user input device and a serviced host. The host-side wireless interface includes a wireless network interface, a host interface, and may include additional components. The wireless network interface wirelessly communicates with the wireless user input device. The host interface communicatively couples to the wireless interface and to the serviced host. When the serviced host initiates bootstrap operations via a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), the host interface operates in a BIOS host interface mode to allow input from the wireless user input device to the BIOS during the bootstrap operations. Further, when the serviced host initiates Operating System (OS) operations, the host interface operates in an OS host interface mode, wherein the OS host interface mode differs from the BIOS host interface mode. In this fashion, the user of the wireless user input device may interface with the BIOS during booting operations prior to loading and configuration of the OS.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates generally to digital computers; and more particularly to wireless interface devices coupled to digital computers.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] Digital computers have been known in the art for years. Personal digital computers typically include a case, a video display, and one or more input/output devices. The case typically includes a power supply, a cooling fan, a motherboard, interface ports, peripheral cards, a disk drive, and other components. Contained on the motherboard are a processor, memory, a processor chip set, and one or more peripheral buses. The peripheral cards interface input/output devices with the motherboard via the peripheral buses. Other input/output devices may couple directly to the motherboard via appropriate connectors, e.g., devices coupled via a parallel port, devices coupled via a serial port, and devices coupled via a USB.

[0006] Input devices receive input from a user or another source while output devices provide output to a user or another destination. Keyboards, computer mice, microphones, scanners, etc. are typically considered input devices because they receive input but provide no output. Monitors, speakers, printers, etc. are considered output devices because they provide output to the user but receive no input from the user. Other devices, such as touch sensitive monitors, that both receive input and produce output are considered to be both input and output devices.

[0007] Wireless communication technology has rapidly advanced over the past few years. Resultantly, computer input/output devices are now being called upon to wirelessly communicate with their “host” computers. Wireless keyboards and mice now couple via wireless connections to their host computers. These “wireless” input devices provide great benefits in that they require no wired connections with their host computers.

[0008] Various operational difficulties may arise, however, in using a wireless input device in place of a wired input device. One particular problem arises during power-up or reset in which the host computer is booted. When the host computer is boot strapped (boot or booted) it first executes a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) that is typically retrieved from static memory. The BIOS performs a status check on the host computer and then, once the status check is completed, initiates loading of an Operating System (OS) that is contained on a hard disk, CD ROM, or other storage device. However, the BIOS has limited ability to recognize peripheral devices. Currently, most, if not all BIOSs do not support wireless user input devices. To access the BIOS of the host computer or to cause the OS to enter a non-standard mode of operation requires input from a keyboard. Further, interaction with the BIOS may also require or allow input from a mouse. Thus, in order to perform these operations, a user must temporarily employ a wired keyboard and/or a wired mouse. Such additional difficulty in connecting and using the wired keyboard and/or wired mouse is unwieldy and may cause the user to give up his or her wireless user input device.

[0009] Thus, there is a need in the art for a solution to the unavailability of wireless user input devices during startup or reset prior to the loading of the OS.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Thus in order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior devices among other shortcomings a host-side wireless interface constructed according to the present invention services communications between a wireless user input device and a serviced host. The wireless user input device may be a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, or another wireless user input device. The host-side wireless interface includes a wireless network interface, a host interface, and may include additional components. The wireless network interface wirelessly communicates with the wireless user input device. The host interface communicatively couples to the wireless interface and to the serviced host. When the serviced host initiates bootstrap operations via a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), the host interface operates in a BIOS host interface mode to allow input from the wireless user input device to the BIOS during the bootstrap operations. Further, when the serviced host initiates Operating System (OS) operations, the host interface operates in an OS host interface mode, wherein the OS host interface mode differs from the BIOS host interface mode. In this fashion, the user of the wireless user input device may interface with the BIOS during booting operations prior to loading and configuration of the OS.

[0011] In a first embodiment of the present invention, during both the initiation of the bootstrap operations and the initiation of the OS operations, the host interface: (1) first presents to the serviced host an interface configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode; and (2) second presents to the serviced host an interface configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode. However, during the bootstrap operations, the BIOS does not recognize the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode but does recognizes the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode. Further, while the OS recognizes both the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode and the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode, the OS selects the first presented configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode.

[0012] With the first embodiment, the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration while the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode comprises a Bluetooth HCI configuration. Thus, while the USB HID configuration may provide a lesser grade of service than the Bluetooth configuration, the configuration is available during bootstrap operations. Further, with this first embodiment, the BIOS may not be Bluetooth aware and, in such case, does not recognize the Bluetooth HCI configuration. However, the OS is Bluetooth aware and recognizes the Bluetooth HCI configuration.

[0013] In a second embodiment according to the present invention, the host interface further includes a hub that operably couples to the serviced host via a host interface bus. The host interface also includes a BIOS host interface module operably coupled to the hub that supports the BIOS host interface mode and an OS host interface module operably coupled to the hub that supports the OS host interface mode. With this embodiment, in the bootstrap operations of the serviced host, the BIOS recognizes the BIOS host interface module but does not recognize the OS host interface module. Further, in the OS operations of the serviced host, the OS selects the OS host interface module for servicing. In this embodiment, the BIOS host interface module supports a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration while the OS host interface module supports a Bluetooth HCI configuration.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, configuration information for each serviced wireless user input devices is stored in non-volatile memory of the host-side wireless interface as well as in the non-volatile memory of the serviced host. In this case, during the BIOS host interface mode, the host-side wireless interface does not require interaction with the serviced host to establish communication with the wireless user input devices. Further, in the BIOS host interface mode the host-side wireless interface implements protocol operations, e.g., L2CAP Bluetooth protocol operations that are required for communication with the wireless user input devices. Thus, in the BIOS host interface mode, the host-side wireless interface has sufficient configuration information and protocol layer support to service the wireless user input devices without interaction of the serviced host. The BIOS host interface mode is supported by the host-side wireless interface not only during BIOS operations of the serviced host but when the OS of the serviced host does not provide support. In such case, the wireless user input devices appear as wired devices to the serviced host.

[0015] Moreover, other aspects of the present invention will become apparent with further reference to the drawings and specification, which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a PC host, a wireless keyboard, a wireless mouse, a wirelessly enabled printer, a wirelessly enabled camera, and a wirelessly enabled game controller, each of which includes a wireless interface device constructed according to, and operating according to the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the structure of a wireless mouse that includes a wireless interface device constructed according to the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the structure of a wireless keyboard that includes a wireless interface device constructed according to the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless interface device (integrated circuit) constructed according to the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a host computer containing a host-side wireless interface constructed according to the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a host-side wireless interface constructed according to the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail a first embodiment of the host interface of FIG. 6;

[0023] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail a second embodiment of the host interface of FIG. 6;

[0024] FIG. 9 is a logic diagram illustrating protocol stack(s) supported by a host-side wireless interface constructed according to the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 10 is a logic diagram illustrating operation according to the present invention in servicing a wireless user input device during startup or reset of the host computer;

[0026] FIG. 11 is a logic diagram illustrating operation according to the present invention in setting up a wireless user input device with a servicing host computer that requires no other input than that of the wireless user input device;

[0027] FIG. 12 is operational flow diagram illustrating one particular operation of the present invention in the initial setup of a wireless host, a wireless keyboard, and a wireless mouse;

[0028] FIGS. 13A and 13B are operational flow diagrams illustrating operation according to the present invention in initiating a BIOS host interface mode of operation to service communications between a host computer, a wireless keyboard, and a wireless mouse;

[0029] FIGS. 14A and 14B are operational flow diagrams illustrating operation according to the present invention in transitioning from a BIOS host interface mode of operation to an OS host interface mode of operation to service communications between the host computer, the wireless keyboard, and the wireless mouse; and

[0030] FIGS. 15A and 15B are operational flow diagrams illustrating a particular operation of the present invention in a first boot process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a PC host 100, a wireless keyboard 102, a wireless mouse 104, a wirelessly enabled printer 106, a wirelessly enabled camera 108, and a wirelessly enabled game controller 110, each of which includes a wireless interface device constructed according to, and operating according to the present invention. The PC host 100 wirelessly couples to the wireless keyboard 102, a wireless mouse 104, a wirelessly enabled printer 106, a wirelessly enabled camera 108, and a wirelessly enabled game controller 110. According to the present invention, the PC host 100, the wireless keyboard 102, the wireless mouse 104, the wirelessly enabled printer 106, the wirelessly enabled camera 108, and the wirelessly enabled game controller 110 support user input operations when the PC host 100 is either in a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) mode of operation or when in an Operating System (OS) mode of operation. Further, according to the present invention, the PC host 100, the wireless keyboard 102, the wireless mouse 104, the wirelessly enabled printer 106, the wirelessly enabled camera 108, and the wirelessly enabled game controller 110 perform unique operations during first time setup to ensure that the devices will robustly pair with one another and so that they will robustly operate during subsequent input operations.

[0032] The PC host 100 will be referred to later herein as a “wirelessly enabled host”, a serviced host, a host computer, a computer host, etc. As will be described further with reference to FIG. 5, the PC host 100 includes a host-side wireless interface that supports a wireless networking standard such as the Bluetooth Standard, the 802.15 standard, or another wireless standard.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the structure of a wireless mouse 104 that includes a wireless interface device constructed according to the present invention. An integrated circuit 202 constructed according to the present invention serves as the wireless interface device and couples to various wireless mouse inputs 210. These wireless mouse inputs 210 include x-axis and y-axis inputs as well as a scroll input. The x-axis and y-axis inputs are often referred to a “quadrature” inputs. The components that produce the quadrature inputs are generally referred to at numeral 212 and may be constructed from optical inputs instead of from conventional mechanical inputs. Referenced via numeral 214 are the button inputs that are typical with a wireless mouse and include the left button input, the middle/scroll button input, and the right button input. As is shown, each of the signals produced by the wireless mouse are received by integrated circuit 202. Integrated circuit 202 also couples to battery 204, crystal 206 that produces a reference frequency, e.g., 12 MHz, EEPROM 208, and antenna 216. In one embodiment of the present invention, battery 204 comprises a pair of either AA batteries or AAA batteries. Antenna 216 is an internal antenna in the described because of the size constraints of the wireless mouse and because of the relatively short distance between the PC host and the wireless mouse.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the structure of a wireless keyboard 102 that includes a wireless interface device (integrated circuit 202) constructed according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, integrated circuit 202 services a key scan matrix 302 that provides inputs from the wireless keyboard. Indicators 304 include num-lock, caps-lock, and scroll-lock indicator lights that are lit on the wireless keyboard. The integrated circuit 202 couples to a battery 204, a crystal 206, an EEPROM 208, and an antenna 216.

[0035] In another embodiment (not shown in either FIG. 2 or FIG. 3), the integrated circuit 202 services both wireless mouse and wireless keyboard input and may reside internal to either the wireless mouse of the wireless keyboard. As is relatively apparent to the reader, because the input signals differ, multiplexing or signal sharing may be required. However, different signal lines may be dedicated for wireless keyboard and for wireless mouse inputs such that no signal sharing is required. As is apparent, when the integrated circuit 202 alone services both wireless mouse and wireless keyboard input wired connectivity between the wireless keyboard and the wireless mouse is required.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless interface device (integrated circuit) constructed according to the present invention that services a wireless user input device, such as a wireless mouse or a wireless keyboard (or wirelessly enabled printer, wirelessly enabled camera, or wirelessly enabled game controller). As shown in FIG. 4, the wireless interface device 400 includes a processing unit 402, a wireless interface unit 404, an input/output unit 406, and a power management unit 408. The wireless interface unit 404 couples the wireless interface device 400 to antenna 216. The wireless interface unit 404 operates according to the Bluetooth specification and in particular to the Human Interface Device (HID) portion of the Bluetooth specification.

[0037] Processing unit 402, wireless interface unit 404, and input/output unit 406 couple with one another via a system on chip (SOC) bus 410. Processing unit 402 includes a processing interface that may be used to couple the processing unit to one or more devices. Input/output unit 406 includes an input/output set of signal lines that couple the wireless interface device 400 to at least one user input device, e.g., wireless keyboard and/or wireless mouse

[0038] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a host computer containing a host-side wireless interface constructed according to the present invention. The PC host 100 includes a case 502, a monitor 504, a wireless keyboard 102 such as that shown in FIG. 1 but not shown in FIG. 5, and/or a wireless mouse 104 such as the one shown in FIG. 1 but not shown in FIG. 5. The structure and operation of the monitor 504 is known. Further, the case 502, and the components contained therein are known in both structure and operation, except for the host-side wireless interface of the present invention.

[0039] The case 502 includes a mother board upon which are mounted a processor 506, memory 508, a processor interface 510, and a video interface 512. The processor interface 510 interfaces the processor 506 to serial I/O 514, parallel I/O 516, a PCI I/F 518, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface 522, and to storage 528, e.g., disk storage, CD-ROM storage, or other storage devices. These components are generally known and will not be described further except as to the manner in which they relate to the present invention.

[0040] In a typical embodiment, the PC host 100 includes at least one host-side wireless interface 520 or 524 that services one or more wireless user input devices, e.g., the wireless keyboard 102 and/or the wireless mouse 104. As shown, host-side wireless interface 524 couples to the USB I/F 522 and includes a coupled antenna 526. Further, as shown, host-side wireless interface 520 couples to the PCI I/F 518 and includes a coupled antenna 530. As will be described further with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, each of the host-side wireless interfaces 520 and 524 services a wireless user input device according to the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a host-side wireless interface 520 (or 524) constructed according to the present invention. The host-side wireless interface 520 includes a wireless network interface 603, a host interface 602, and may include additional components such as a microprocessor unit 608. The wireless network interface 603 includes a baseband core 604 that operably couples to an RF front end 606 that couples to antenna 530 (or 526). The host interface 602 operably couples to the baseband core 604 and to the microprocessor unit 608. The host interface operably couples to the host via a host interface bus, e.g., USB, PCI bus, etc. The wireless network interface 603 wirelessly communicates with the wireless user input device(s). The microprocessor unit 608 couples to non-volatile memory 614, which may be EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, SROM, or another type of non-volatile memory.

[0042] When the serviced host initiates bootstrap operations via a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), the host interface 602 operates in a BIOS host interface mode 610 to allow input from the wireless user input device(s) to the BIOS during the bootstrap operations. Further, when the serviced host initiates Operating System (OS) operations, the host interface operates in an OS host interface mode 612, wherein the OS host interface mode 612 differs from the BIOS host interface mode 610. In this fashion, the user of the wireless user input device(s) might interface with the BIOS during booting operations prior to loading and configuration of the OS. The BIOS host interface mode 610 and the OS host interface mode 612 may be embodied in various manners two of which will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively.

[0043] As will be described more fully with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, during initial bonding operations between the PC host 100 and a serviced wireless user input device, bonding information is stored by the host-side wireless interface 520 (524) as well as by the PC host 100 in non-volatile memory. This information includes link key information for each serviced wireless user input device, address information for each serviced wireless user input device, and other information required for the host-side wireless interface 520 (524) to interface with the wireless user input devices. These operations allow the host-side wireless interface 520 (524) to interface with the wireless user input devices even when the PC host 100 is running in BIOS host interface mode 610 while the PC host 100 is not supporting Bluetooth HCI operations. In effect, the host-side wireless interface 520 (524) causes the wireless user input devices to appear as wired devices, from the perspective of the PC host 100. With wireless operations supported in this manner, during device setup the user may interface with the PC host 100 to interact with the BIOS operating on the host.

[0044] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail a first embodiment of the host interface 602 of FIG. 6. As shown, the host interface 602 includes a PCM I/F 702 that couples the baseband core 604 to a PCM device, e.g. CODEC, of the serviced host computer. The host interface 602 further includes a USB I/F 704 that operates according to the present invention and a UART I/F 706. The USB I/F 704 couples to a USB of the serviced host computer and to the microprocessor unit 608, as does the UART I/F 706. The structure illustrated in FIG. 7 is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0045] In the first embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 7, during both the initiation of the BIOS operations and the initiation of the OS operations, the host interface 602 first presents to the serviced host an interface configuration 710 corresponding to the OS host interface mode. Secondly, the host interface 602 presents to the serviced host computer an interface configuration 708 corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode. However, during the bootstrap operations, the BIOS does not recognize the configuration 710 corresponding to the OS host interface mode but does recognizes the configuration 708 corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode. Further, while the OS recognizes both the configuration 710 corresponding to the OS host interface mode and the configuration 708 corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode, the OS selects the first presented configuration 710 corresponding to the OS host interface mode.

[0046] With the first embodiment, the configuration 708 corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration while the configuration 710 corresponding to the OS host interface mode comprises a Bluetooth Host Controller Interface (HCI) configuration. Thus, while the USB HID configuration will provide a lesser grade of service than the Bluetooth configuration, the configuration is available during bootstrap operations. Further, with this first embodiment, the BIOS may not be Bluetooth aware and, in such case, does not recognize the Bluetooth HCI configuration. However, the OS is Bluetooth aware and recognizes the Bluetooth HCI configuration.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail a second embodiment of the host interface of FIG. 6. As contrasted to the embodiment of FIG. 7, in the second embodiment, the host interface 602 further includes a USB hub 804 that operably couples to the serviced host via a host interface bus, i.e., USB. The host interface 602 also includes a BIOS host interface module 806 operably coupled to the hub that supports the BIOS host interface mode and an OS host interface module 808 operably coupled to the hub that supports the OS host interface mode. With this embodiment, in the bootstrap operations of the serviced host, the BIOS recognizes the BIOS host interface module 806 but does not recognize the OS host interface module 808. Further, in the OS operations of the serviced host, the OS selects the OS host interface module 808 for servicing. In this embodiment, the BIOS host interface module 806 supports a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration while the OS host interface module 808 supports a Bluetooth HCI configuration.

[0048] FIG. 9 is a logic diagram illustrating protocol stack(s) supported by a host-side wireless interface constructed according to the present invention. As illustrated, in the BIOS host interface mode of operation the serviced host computer 900 runs a BIOS supported protocol stack that includes HID support. Further, after the OS is loaded and running on the serviced host computer, the serviced host computer services an OS application that includes an OS supported protocol stack having L2CAP support and HCI support. Each of the BIOS supported protocol stack and the OS supported protocol stack of the serviced host computer 900 interfaces with a host-side wireless interface 904 via a transport bus, e.g., a USB 902.

[0049] The radio of the host-side wireless interface 904 interfaces with the radio of a wireless user input device 906. The wireless user input device, also referred to as an HID, includes a baseband and link controller, an HID supported protocol stack, and HID application firmware. Together, these various components support operation according to the present invention in allowing a user to use the wireless user input device during both boot operations via the BIOS and during normal operations via the OS, each of which operates on the serviced host computer.

[0050] During BIOS host interface mode operations, the host-side wireless interface 904 services a BIOS host interface mode transport bus interface and a host controller supported protocol stack. In the OS host interface mode operations, the host-side wireless interface 904 services an OS host interface mode transport bus interface and a host controller supported protocol stack. According to one aspect of the present invention relating to the Bluetooth operating standard, in the BIOS host interface mode, the host controller supported protocol stack of the host-side wireless interface supports the Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol (L2CAP) layer and provides HID support. L2CAP is a Bluetooth protocol layer that is responsible for managing the virtual connections between Bluetooth devices and the first level of Asynchronous ConnectionLess (ACL) data flow. Bluetooth Logical Link Control operations create and manage a virtual connection for each I/O task the PC host gives it, e.g., with each supported wireless user input device. By supporting the L2CAP layer in the host controller supported protocol stack of the host-side wireless interface 904 while in the BIOS host interface mode, wireless user interface devices may be used to interact with the PC host 100 during bootstrap operations when only the BIOS runs on the computer host 900.

[0051] In the OS host interface mode, the OS supported protocol stack supports the L2CAP protocol layer and provides HCI support. Thus, in the OS host interface mode the computer host 900 supports HIDs. The manner in which the host-side wireless interface 904 and the serviced host 900 each support the L2CAP protocol layer, and how servicing of L2CAP is passed between the host-side wireless interface 520 (524) and the serviced host 900 will be described further with reference to FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B.

[0052] FIG. 10 is a logic diagram illustrating operation according to the present invention in servicing a wireless user input device during startup or reset of the host computer. After power up or reset of the serviced host computer, bootstrap operations are initiated (step 1002). As part of the bootstrap operations, the BIOS accesses the host-side wireless interface (step 1004). In accessing the host-side wireless interface, the BIOS recognizes the host-side wireless interface (step 1006). As will be described further with reference to FIG. 13, in BIOS host interface mode, the host-side wireless interface 520 (524) performs link management of the wireless user interface devices.

[0053] While the BIOS is running on the PC host, and prior to loading and configuration of the OS, the BIOS is able to receive input from the wireless user input device (step 1008). Next, the OS is loaded (step 1010) and then the OS configuration operations commence (step 1012). During configuration of the OS, the OS recognizes the OS host interface mode of the host-side wireless interface (step 1014) and, after configuration for this mode of operation, the OS is able to receive input from the wireless user input device via the OS host interface mode (1016). From step 1016, operation ends.

[0054] FIG. 11 is a logic diagram illustrating operation according to the present invention in setting up a wireless user input device with a servicing host computer that requires no other input than that of the wireless user input device. The PC host and the wireless user input devices are initially unpaired/unbonded. Bluetooth devices are unpaired when there has been no exchanged link key between the devices. The operations of FIG. 11 cause a pair of unpaired devices to become paired so that they support further operation. A first operation according to the method is powering the wireless user input device, e.g., by installing the battery (step 1102). With the wireless user input device powered, based upon receipt of a configuration input from a user of the wireless user input device, the wireless user input device enters a discovery mode (step 1104). In one embodiment the user input device enters discovery mode upon being powered up. In another embodiment, the user input device enters discovery mode only upon execution of a particular operation by the user, for example the pressing of a connect button.

[0055] Then, with the wireless user input device in the discovery mode, the method includes powering the PC host computer and loading the OS (step 1106). The PC host causes the host-side wireless interface to enter an inquiry mode after determining that the PC host supports Bluetooth (or other) operations and that the PC host has not yet bonded with any wireless user input devices (step 1108). The host-side wireless interface of the PC host computer then discovers the wireless user input device (step 1110). The host-side wireless interface of the PC host computer next sends a Remote Name Request to the wireless user input device (step 1112). Based upon receipt of a Remote Name Request user at the wireless user input device, the wireless user inputs a special key sequence and, based upon this special key sequence, the wireless user input device responds to the host-side wireless interface of the PC host computer with a Remote Name Request Response identifying the wireless user input device (step 1114). At step 1114, the special key sequence input by the user of the wireless user input device causes the wireless user input device to respond with a specialized Remote Name Request Response. In one embodiment, the Remote Name Request Response includes a suffix after the regular device name in the Remote Name Request Response. However, in other embodiments, a generic description indicating that the wireless user input device should be give priority by the host-side wireless interface may be employed, e.g., a Class-of-Device indication that identifies the wireless user input device as a Human Input Device.

[0056] Finally, the PC host computer performs configuration operations based upon the Remote Name Request Response. In a typical configuration operation based upon the Remote Name Request Response, the PC host performs authentication operations, initializes a connection with the wireless user input device, and may include giving priority to the wireless user input device based upon the Remote Name Request Response (step 1116). According to the pairing operations of the present invention, the Remote Name Request and Response operations may require that a Class of Device (COD) be included by the responding wireless user input device. With this operation in place, the host computer may ignore wireless devices that do not have a COD from a COD group that includes desired wireless user input devices (or other acceptable devices).

[0057] In an alternate embodiment, steps 1112-1116 are merged into a single automatic operation. In such merged operation, in discovering the wireless input device the host computer determines that the wireless input device is of a particular class of device. Upon identifying that the wireless input device is of a particular class of device the host computer gives priority to the wireless input device and initializes the Bluetooth connection with the wireless input device.

[0058] FIG. 12 is operational flow diagram illustrating one particular operation of the present invention in the initial setup of a wireless host (PC host), a wireless keyboard, and a wireless mouse. As a first operation, the PC host is powered up (step 1200). After power up, the PC host launches its OS and further PC host operations are performed at the command of the OS (step 1202). Next, the PC host performs Interface Enumeration operations (on the USB) and host driver installation (step 1204).

[0059] Because the host-side wireless interface is powered by the PC host, the host-side wireless interface is powered with the PC host. Concurrently or non-concurrently with powering the PC host, one or more wireless user input devices is/are powered, e.g., wireless keyboard is powered (step 1206) or wireless mouse is powered (step 1208). Note that the operations of FIGS. 12, 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B are not limited to the sequence indicated by the numbering. In fact, these various operations could be performed in differing orders or concurrently with one another.

[0060] Upon powering up, the wireless keyboard and/or wireless mouse are discoverable such that the devices will respond to an inquiry from the host-side wireless interface (normally in addition to responding to a page). In an alternate operation, the wireless keyboard and/or wireless mouse do not automatically enter a discovery mode of operation upon power up. In this alternate operation, the wireless mouse and/or keyboard become discoverable upon receipt of user input, e.g., a connect button depression, that places the device(s) into a discoverable mode. With the wireless keyboard and/or the wireless mouse discoverable, operation proceeds. The PC host via the host-side wireless interface next performs Bluetooth wireless keyboard setup procedures to setup the wireless keyboard (step 1210). During these operations, information for the wireless keyboard is received by the host-side wireless interface and passed to the PC host for storage. This information may include a PIN for the wireless keyboard, a link key for the established link, the BD_ADDR for the wireless keyboard, and other information relating to the pairing/bonding of the host-side wireless interface/PC host and the wireless keyboard. According to the present invention, the wireless keyboard (and the wireless mouse in the setup of step 1218) may have a special Class of Device (COD) number that identifies the devices as Human Interface Devices (HIDs) during device setup. The CODs will cause the PC host to give S the devices priority in being setup. It is contemplated that either the wireless mouse or the wireless keyboard will be give highest priority so that they may be employed in the subsequent setup operations.

[0061] Note that the following Bluetooth terminology relates to the processes of the present invention and is provided herein for additional reference:

[0062] The operations of FIG. 12 are referred to as “Bonding.” Bonding is a dedicated procedure for performing the first authentication between Bluetooth devices, where a common link key is created and stored for future use.

[0063] An unknown device is a Bluetooth device for which no information (BD_ADDR, link key, PIN, or other) is stored. Prior to the operations of FIG. 12, the PC host, the wireless keyboard, and the wireless mouse are unknown to one another. In this state, the devices are not yet bonded and are unknown to one another.

[0064] A known device is a Bluetooth device for which at least the BD_ADDR is stored. During setup, the PC host will learn the BD_ADDR of the wireless keyboard and the wireless mouse. Both the PC host and the host-side wireless interface may store the BD_ADDR of each serviced wireless interface device, i.e., wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, camera, printer, game controller, etc. as well as additional information relating to the bonding of the devices.

[0065] An authenticated device is a Bluetooth device whose identity has been verified during the lifetime of the current link, based on the authentication procedure. At step 1210, the wireless keyboard is authenticated by the PC host in addition to being set up.

[0066] A trusted relationship is created when a remote device is marked as a trusted device. This includes storing a common link key for future authentication and pairing (if the link key is not available). During the setup procedure at step 1210, the wireless keyboard may be marked as a trusted device.

[0067] After the setup procedure of step 1210 has been completed, the link key, the BD_ADDR (which is based upon the COD of the wireless keyboard), and other configuration information are stored in non-volatile memory 614 of the host-side wireless interface 520 (524) (step 1212). This information was previously stored in the PC host at step 1210 during the Bluetooth wireless keyboard setup procedure. The wireless keyboard also saves host information and link key information into its non-volatile memory 403 (step 1216). Additionally, the host-side wireless interface saves the configuration information of the wireless keyboard in its non-volatile memory 614 for subsequent use (step 1214). As will be described further with reference to FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, and as was described with reference to FIG. 9, in BIOS host interface mode, the host-side wireless interface must support most (if not all) Bluetooth protocol operations, some of which require the configuration information that was gathered during the operations of FIG. 12. In BIOS host interface mode, the configuration information is not available from the PC host and thus, the host-side wireless interface must locally store such information so that it is available.

[0068] The setup procedure between the PC host and the wireless mouse is next performed (step 1218). This procedure is the same/similar to the setup of the wireless keyboard of step 1210 and results in bonding of the wireless mouse to the PC host. The wireless mouse then saves host information and link key information into its non-volatile memory (step 1222). The information stored by the wireless mouse is the same/similar information as was saved at step 1216 by the wireless keyboard. Further, the host-side wireless interface saves the wireless mouse information into its non-volatile memory (step 1220). The information stored for the wireless mouse is the same type of information as was stored for the wireless keyboard at steps 1212 and 1214. An alternate form of the operations of FIG. 12 may be found in FIG. 15B and its corresponding description.

[0069] FIGS. 13A and 13B are operational flow diagrams illustrating operation according to the present invention in initiating a BIOS host interface mode of operation to service communications between a host computer, a wireless keyboard, and a wireless mouse. The operations of FIGS. 13A, 13B, 14A, and 14B are described in a particular order. This particular order may or may not be the order of the operations described as these operations may occur in differing orders.

[0070] On a power up or reset operation (step 1300), the PC host initiates BIOS startup (step 1302). The PC host then issues a USB reset or other trigger, which the host side wireless interface receives (step 1304). On the PC host-side, the PC host performs hub enumeration with the host-side wireless interface (step 1306). With the host-side wireless interface supporting BIOS host interface mode, HID enumeration is performed for the ports serviced by the host-side wireless interface, e.g., port #2 for the wireless keyboard, port #3 for the wireless mouse, etc. (step 1308). The host-side wireless interface then turns on its internal L2CAP protocol stack (step 1310) and enables port #2 and port #3 to support the wireless keyboard and the wireless mouse, respectively (step 1312).

[0071] During the BIOS startup (or thereafter) the wireless keyboard or wireless mouse generates an event, i.e., keystroke(s), cursor movement, wireless mouse click, etc. (step 1314 and/or step 1316). In response thereto, the wireless keyboard/wireless mouse pages the host (step 1318). However, the host-side wireless interface cannot complete a connection of the page to the PC host (step 1320). Thus, the host-side wireless interface performs ACL connection setup with the wireless keyboard/wireless mouse (step 1322). Further, because in the BIOS host interface mode the host-side wireless interface supports the L2CAP protocol layer, it performs L2CAP setup with the wireless keyboard/wireless mouse (step 1324). The host-side wireless interface receives input data from the wireless keyboard (step 1326), e.g., CNTL-ALT-DEL, and input data from the wireless mouse (step 1328) via the L2CAP protocol layer.

[0072] The host-side wireless interface then decodes the L2CAP messages from the wireless keyboard/wireless mouse (step 1330) and reports the information contained therein to the PC host in a boot mode report format (step 1332), which causes the PC host to initiate BIOS setup operations. The BIOS setup menu is then presented to the user (step 1334).

[0073] FIGS. 14A and 14B are operational flow diagrams illustrating operation according to the present invention in transitioning from a BIOS host interface mode of operation to an OS host interface mode of operation to service communications between the host computer, the wireless keyboard, and the wireless mouse. Operation commences on power up or reset (step 1400) with the host PC starting its BIOS (step 1402). The devices next perform boot mode setup/operations as was described with reference to FIGS. 13A/13B (step 1404). The PC host next performs OS setup (step 1406) and the OS issues an HciReset command (or other trigger) via the USB to the host-side wireless interface (step 1408).

[0074] Based upon this HciReset command the host-side wireless interface executes logic to determine whether to transition from non-boot to boot logic (step 1410). If the logic dictates a transition from non-boot to boot logic, the host-side wireless interface disables its internal L2CAP protocol stack (step 1412). The host-side wireless interface then disconnects the links that it has with the wireless keyboard and/or the wireless mouse (step 1414). The host-side wireless interface then disables (blocks or switches off) the USB HID devices on port #2 and port #3, the wireless keyboard and wireless mouse, respectively (step 1416).

[0075] No activity occurs until the wireless keyboard receives user input and initiates a connection procedure (step 1418). Upon completion of the connection event, the host-side wireless interface interacts with the PC host to indicate the completion of the connection event (step 1420). In response thereto, the PC host, via the host-side wireless interface, performs L2CAP setup (step 1422). As the reader will recall from FIG. 9, in the OS host interface mode of operation, the L2CAP protocol is implemented upon the PC host. These same events (steps 1418 through 1422) are performed for the wireless mouse at steps 1424 through 1428. With these events completed, data is transferred from the wireless keyboard and/or host to the PC host via L2CAP operations (step 1430).

[0076] FIGS. 15A and 15B are operational flow diagrams illustrating a particular operation of the present invention during a first boot process. The first boot process includes two stages. The first stage is the USB HID Enumeration (UHE) stage (steps 1500-1524) and the second state is the UHE-to-HostStack transition stage (steps 1526-1550). FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate both of these states. In the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 15A and 15B, numbers are used to label each event for reference. However, the described events are not required to occur in the exact sequence as shown.

[0077] In a first operation, a user begins configuration of his or her host computer by powering up the computer (step 1500). At power up, the BIOS starts (step 1502). During the BIOS startup process, the BIOS starts the USB enumeration process by first issuing a USB reset (step 1504). Before or during the BIOS startup, the keyboard powers up with prepared information, including a host Bluetooth address and initial link key information (step 1506). Likewise, the mouse powers up with prepared information including host Bluetooth address information and link key information (step 1508).

[0078] The BIOS performs enumeration of the host side wireless interface USB hub device (step 1510). In the operations of FIGS. 15A and 15B, the host side wireless interface includes a USB hub, e.g., USB hub 804 of FIG. 8 with three ports, a Bluetooth port, a mouse port, and a keyboard port, behind the USB hub. The BIOS then enumerates the ports contained behind the USB hub of the host side wireless interface (step 1512). Since the BIOS of the PC host is not Bluetooth aware, it will only be able to recognize the HID mouse and the HID keyboard devices.

[0079] The user then provides input to the wireless keyboard (step 1514) and/or the wireless mouse (step 1516). Either of these HID devices having input to send to the PC host will initiate page and the ACL connection setup with the host side wireless interface (step 1518). The host side wireless interface and the HID devices transceiver and HID device perform L2CAP channel setup (step 1520). The host side wireless interface then activates its internal L2CAP protocol stack, receives the input from the HID devices, converts the HID report data into regular USB HID device boot mode format, and deliver the data to the PC host (step 1522). The PC host then services user interaction via the HID devices with the devices configured in the UHE enumeration stage (step 1524).

[0080] In the UHE-to-HostStack transition stage, the PC host starts the OS, with the OS implementing a PC host Bluetooth Stack (step 1526). The OS of the PC host then restarts the USB enumeration process (step 1528). After regular USB enumeration, the PC host Bluetooth stack issues an HciReset command (step 1530). Upon receiving the HciReset, the host side wireless interface initiates a mode switch operation from the BIOS mode of operation to the OS mode of operation as was previously described with reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B (step 1532). The PC host Bluetooth stack then reads HID device information (step 1534). This operation may be performed by the PC host issuing a ReadHIDBdAddr vendor specific command and the host side wireless interface responding with HID devices' BdAddr information.

[0081] The PC host Bluetooth stack next initiates the ACL connection setup procedure (step 1536). ACL connection setup is then performed between the host side wireless interface and the HID devices (step 1538). Next, the PC host issues to the host side wireless interface a ChangeConnectionLinkkey command to update the link key (step 1540). Based upon this command a new link key is generated. The new link key is communicated between the PC host, the host side wireless interface, the wireless keyboard, and the wireless mouse. The PC host then stores the updated link key on a hard drive (or other non-volatile memory, at step 1542). The host side wireless interface, the wireless keyboard, and the wireless mouse store the updated link key in non-volatile memory at steps 1544, 1546, and 1548, respectively. L2CAP channel setup between the PC host Bluetooth stack and the HID devices is performed by the OS and OS mode Bluetooth HID operation begins (step 1550).

[0082] The invention disclosed herein is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. Specific embodiments therefore have been shown by way of example in the drawings and detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A host-side wireless interface that services communications between a wireless user input device and a serviced host, the host-side wireless interface comprising: a wireless network interface that wirelessly communicates with the wireless user input device; a host interface communicatively coupled to the wireless interface and to the serviced host; wherein when the serviced host initiates bootstrap operations via a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), the host interface operates in a BIOS host interface mode to allow input from the wireless user input device to the BIOS during the bootstrap operations; and wherein when the serviced host initiates Operating System (OS) operations, the host interface operates in an OS host interface mode, wherein the OS host interface mode differs from the BIOS host interface mode.

2. The host-side wireless interface of claim 1, wherein: during both the initiation of the bootstrap operations and the initiation of the OS operations, the host interface firstly presents to the serviced host an interface configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode and secondly presents to the serviced host an interface configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode; during the bootstrap operations, the BIOS does not recognize the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode but does recognizes the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode; the OS recognizes both the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode and the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode; and the OS selects the firstly presented configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode.

3. The host-side wireless interface of claim 2, wherein: the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration; and the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode comprises a Bluetooth HID configuration.

4. The host-side wireless interface of claim 3, wherein: the BIOS is not Bluetooth aware and does not recognize the Bluetooth HID configuration; and the OS is Bluetooth aware and recognizes the Bluetooth HID configuration.

5. The host-side wireless interface of claim 1, wherein the host interface further comprises: a hub that operably couples to the serviced host via a host interface bus; a BIOS host interface module operably coupled to the hub that supports the BIOS host interface mode; and an OS host interface module operably coupled to the hub that supports the OS host interface mode.

6. The host-side wireless interface of claim 5, wherein in the bootstrap operations of the serviced host, the BIOS recognizes the BIOS host interface module but does not recognize the OS host interface module.

7. The host-side wireless interface of claim 5, wherein in the OS operations of the serviced host, the OS selects the OS host interface module for servicing.

8. The host-side wireless interface of claim 5, wherein: the BIOS host interface module supports a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration; and the OS host interface module supports a Bluetooth HID configuration.

9. The host-side wireless interface of claim 1, wherein the wireless network interface wirelessly communicates with the wireless user input device according to at least one version of the Bluetooth operating standard.

10. The host-side wireless interface of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor unit operably coupled to the wireless network interface and to the host interface.

11. The host-side wireless interface of claim 1, wherein the wireless user input device is selected from the group consisting of at least a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse.

12. The host-side wireless interface of claim 1, further comprising non-volatile memory in which configuration information for the wireless user input device is stored, wherein the configuration information stored in the non-volatile memory is employed by the host-side wireless interface in the BIOS host interface mode.

13. A computer peripheral adapter that services communications between a wireless user input device and a serviced host computer, the computer peripheral adapter comprising: a bus coupler that couples the computer peripheral adapter to a peripheral bus of the serviced computer; a wireless network interface that wirelessly communicates with the wireless user input device; a host interface communicatively coupled to the bus coupler and to the wireless interface; wherein when the serviced host computer initiates bootstrap operations via a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), the host interface operates in a BIOS host interface mode to allow input from the wireless user input device to the BIOS during the bootstrap operations; and wherein when the serviced host computer initiates Operating System (OS) operations, the host interface operates in an OS host interface mode to allow input from the wireless user input device to the OS, wherein the OS host interface mode differs from the BIOS host interface mode.

14. The computer peripheral adapter of claim 13, wherein: during both the initiation of the bootstrap operations and the initiation of the OS operations, the host interface firstly presents to the serviced host computer an interface configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode and secondly presents to the serviced host computer an interface configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode; during the bootstrap operations, the BIOS does not recognize the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode but does recognizes the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode; the OS recognizes both the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode and the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode; and the OS selects the firstly presented configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode.

15. The computer peripheral adapter of claim 14, wherein: the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration; and the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode comprises a Bluetooth HID configuration.

16. The computer peripheral adapter of claim 15, wherein: the BIOS is not Bluetooth aware and does not recognize the Bluetooth HID configuration; and the OS is Bluetooth aware and recognizes the Bluetooth HID configuration.

17. The computer peripheral adapter of claim 13, further comprising non-volatile memory in which configuration information for the wireless user input device is stored, wherein the configuration information stored in the non-volatile memory is employed by the host-side wireless interface in the BIOS host interface mode.

18. A computer peripheral adapter that services communications between a wireless user input device and a serviced host computer, the computer peripheral adapter comprising: a bus coupler that couples the computer peripheral adapter to a peripheral bus of the serviced computer; a wireless network interface that wirelessly communicates with the wireless user input device; a host interface communicatively coupled to the bus coupler and to the wireless interface that includes: a hub that operably couples to the serviced host computer via the bus coupler and the peripheral bus; a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) host interface module operably coupled to the hub that supports BIOS host interface operations; and an Operating System (OS) host interface module operably coupled to the hub that supports OS host interface operations; wherein when the serviced host computer initiates bootstrap operations via a BIOS, the serviced host computer accesses the BIOS host interface operations of the BIOS host interface module; and wherein when the serviced host computer initiates OS operations, the serviced host computer accesses the OS host interface host operations of the OS host interface module.

19. The computer peripheral adapter of claim 18, wherein in the bootstrap operations of the serviced host, the BIOS recognizes the BIOS host interface module but does not recognize the OS host interface module.

20. The computer peripheral adapter of claim 18, wherein in the OS operations of the serviced host, the OS selects the OS host interface module for servicing.

21. The computer peripheral adapter of claim 18, wherein: the BIOS host interface module supports a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration; and the OS host interface module supports a Bluetooth HID configuration.

22. The computer peripheral adapter of claim 18, further comprising non-volatile memory in which configuration information for the wireless user input device is stored, wherein the configuration information stored in the non-volatile memory is employed by the host-side wireless interface in the BIOS host interface mode.

23. A method for operating a host-side wireless interface that is operably coupled to a serviced host computer to support communications from a wireless user input device to the serviced host computer, the method comprising: during a first operation, interfacing with a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the serviced host computer while the serviced host computer is performing bootstrap operations, wherein interfacing with the BIOS of the serviced host computer includes operating the host-side wireless interface in a BIOS host interface mode to allow input from the wireless user input device to the BIOS during the bootstrap operations; and during a second operation, interfacing with an Operating System (OS) of the serviced host computer, wherein interfacing with the OS of the serviced host computer includes operating the host-side wireless interface in an OS host interface mode to allow input from the wireless user input device to the OS, wherein the OS host interface mode differs from the BIOS host interface mode.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the method includes: firstly presenting a configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode and secondly presenting a configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode; the BIOS recognizing the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode but not recognizing the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode; the OS recognizing both the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode and the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode; and the OS selecting the firstly presented configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein: the configuration corresponding to the BIOS host interface mode comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Human Interface Device (HID) configuration; and the configuration corresponding to the OS host interface mode comprises a Bluetooth HID configuration.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein: the BIOS is not Bluetooth aware and does not recognize the Bluetooth HID configuration; and the OS is Bluetooth aware and recognizes the Bluetooth HID configuration.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the wireless network interface wirelessly communicates with the wireless user input device according to at least one version of the Bluetooth operating standard.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising: storing configuration information for the wireless user input device in non-volatile memory of the host-side wireless interface; and retrieving the configuration information stored in the non-volatile memory of the host-side wireless interface for use by the host-side wireless interface in the BIOS host interface mode.